The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe route following a train derailment on Saturday evening.
The derailment involved two of the train’s seven coaches at Kilometre 212+8m in Agbor, Delta State, around 7:30 pm. Preliminary reports suggest suspected track vandalism may have caused the incident.
NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated and accounted for. “No casualties or injuries were recorded,” he said, adding that recovery teams, with the support of security personnel, are working to restore the site.
Train services on the route will remain suspended until a full security and safety audit of the track and related infrastructure is completed.
The derailment occurred just four days after the NRC resumed services on the Warri–Itakpe line on 29 October 2025, following a suspension that began on 2 August due to recurring technical issues. Covering more than 300 kilometres, it is the longest of Nigeria’s three modern train routes.
The NRC apologized for the disruption and assured passengers that operations would resume once the track is deemed safe. Between 2020 and 2025, over 188 rail-related incidents have been reported nationwide, many linked to vandalism and criminal activity.
Past derailments have also raised safety concerns. In August, a derailment on the Abuja–Kaduna route left seven passengers injured, while in January 2019, a Lagos train accident claimed one life. The NRC has emphasized that passenger safety remains a priority and that affected travelers will be refunded.
